Elf Studio Blush in Candid Coral: Review and Swatches!

If there's one staple beauty product that the drugstore seriously lacks in terms of quality, it has to be blush. There just doesn't seem to be many brands that currently have amazing blushes, along with lacking colors/finishes that really grab my attention. Most drugstore blushes are too shimmery or glittery with mediocre color ranges that are just unimpressive (and in more recent years, way overpriced).

Two brands have really caught my attention lately in the blush department, and I can happily report that these are brands with price tags suitable for buying multiple on a budget. One is Wet n' Wild (which is saved for a later post) and the other is Elf.

Candid Coral is my fourth Elf Studio blush, and I keep falling more and more in love with each new addition to my collection. The brand packages this product in a rectangular, plastic black casing with a clear strip so you can see the color of the product. The effect is very similar to the NARS packaging, which I really like. The others colors I have are Tinkled Pink, Mellow Mauve, and Pink Passion. I use each and every one of them, but I want to feature Candid Coral as it is perfect for the warmer months. Despite the name, this is not a true coral. I would describe it as a natural, peachy color with coral undertones. It has a subtle golden shimmer to it which makes the cheeks look luminous and acts almost like a highlighter as well as a blush. Very pretty! 

The Elf studio blushes retail for $3 and can be found at Target, K-Mart, or eyeslipsface.com. This line is highly recommended. It has to be the best line of blushes I've found from the drugstore (like I said, I like Wet n' Wild but the Elf color range is so much better!). If you're looking for a blush and don't want to break the bank, I would check these out. 

Would you wear it?

xoxo 

Alyssa

Skincare Staple: Borghese Fango Mud Mask Review!

The second I entered my horrible, teenage acne skin phase (which, sadly, is still in effect), I developed a major blackhead problem on my nose. I know what you're thinking: almost everyone gets blackheads in that area! Well...no. Not like this. They never seemed to go away. I've tried it all. Masks, washes, strips. Drugstore, high-end, dermatologist prescribed. Nothing worked.  And then one day I stumbled across reviews of this little gem while looking for the latest product to give a whirl.

This is the Borghese Fango Active Mud for Face and Body and it is the most effective product when it comes to cleaning out my pores that I have ever used. I've never been drawn to mud masks in the past, but when I read multiple rave reviews on this one, I knew I had to have it. The amazing absorbing ability supposedly lies in the Italian mud, which is alongside avocado and almond oils on the ingredient list.

The downside is that the product is quite harsh if you have even slightly sensitive skin. But there is a sensitive skin version if you don't think your face can handle the real deal. I only use this on my nose, for purposes of both conserving product and the simplistic fact of only needing it in that area.

The directions on the packing say to pack it on thickly and let it sit for 2-5 minutes, which is long enough for it to absorb the dirt without the mask drying. I wouldn't change a thing in application! I think it works wonderfully.

The one that I have is 7oz and priced at $35. They also sell a 17.5oz version priced at $62. As much as I love the product and know that the bigger jar is the better deal, I think I'll stick with my 7oz bottle. The bigger container comes in a big glass jar that I feel would be impractical in terms of usage (Scoop mud out of a jar? No thank you!), storage, and just plain appearance (a glass jar filled with a green-ish gray mask isn't the most attractive thing to look at). Also, if you use it just on specific areas like I do, it should last for a very long time.

This mask is available a number of places, including the Borghese Website, Drugstore.com, and Birchbox.com for the prices listed above. However, Amazon sells it for $10-25 off depending on the size you get and offers both the original and the sensitive skin versions.

If you are in the market for a new mud mask, I highly recommend this one! It is the only thing that has worked for my blackhead problem, and I definitely think it is worth the price tag.

Which product is your skincare savor?
xoxo
Alyssa

L'Oreal Colour Riche Colour Caress Lipstick in Sunset Angora: Review and Swatches!

While browsing the makeup department at my local drugstore (as you do), I noticed that this L'Oreal Colour Riche Colour Caress lipstick was on sale for roughly $5. The drugstores in my area have been known to only put a few colors from a line on sale at a time, which was exactly the case with this product!

The packaging of this product is exquisite. Very YSL, which makes sense as the brands are produced by the same company. The tube is square with a mirrored gold casing and a color-identifying strip near the clasp. Very elegant, very luxurious. 

The color, Sunset Angora (#176) is a beautiful, bright, pinky-coral: perfect for Summer! With a tan and a simple bronzed makeup look, it would look perfect. It's the exact type of color I envision myself wearing on a tropical island getaway. So beautiful!

For me, the formulation is a bit comparable to the MAC Luster lipstick finish. It's sheer and moisturizing, but you can definitely build it up. This is the kind of formula I prefer when it comes to brighter lipsticks, because I tend to go for more natural colors on an every day basis and get more use out of a brighter lip product if I can sheer it out. It's also perfect for a low maintenance lip color. This would be a perfect handbag staple!

These lipsticks are available wherever L'Oreal is sold, ranging from $7-9 depending on the store. If you're in the market for a bright lipstick, I highly recommend this one! Other colors from this line are definitely on my list of must-tries.

What color of these lipsticks is your favorite?
xoxo
Alyssa

My Everyday Makeup Look: Summer 2013

Hey everyone! For my first post, I figured I would do something simple and familiar. As it's summer, I've found myself sticking to a pretty basic routine lately when doing my makeup. I've been loving a very simple, easy look that can be done in less than ten minutes, and these are the products that I've been using!

Clockwise from left: Rimmel Stay Matte Power, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Make Up, Wet n' Wild Color Icon Brow/Eyeliner Pencil, Maybelline The Great Lash clear mascara, Maybelline Cover Stick, Bobbi Brown Corrector

The majority of the time I don't even bother with foundation, but when I do, it's always Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in the color Natural Beige. This is the only makeup product I've tried from the brand, and from what I've heard, one of the only ones worth the heftier price tag. I use two concealers, one for my face and one for under my eyes. I love Bobbi Brown's Corrector (I wear the shade Light to Medium Bisque) for cancelling out my sever dark circles. For my face, I've been loving Maybelline's Cover Stick in Deep Beige. It's amazing for covering the redness around my nose and works really well on blemishes. Because my tan is so on and off during the warmer months, I usually stick to translucent powder for Spring/Summer. Rimmel's Stay Matte has been my favorite this year and as you can see I'm almost done with it! I usually just need to fill in my brows at the base, and I use the Wet n' Wild Color Icon Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in Mink Brown and then set and tame with Maybelline's The Great Lash clear mascara. 

Clockwise left to right: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Urban Decay Naked Basics Pallet, Maybelline The Mega Plush Mascara, Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes, Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal, NYX Jumbo Eye  Pencil

I'm somebody who can go without eye makeup and not look back (yes, mascara included), and on days when I need to run out the door with little time to get ready, I usually just put on a bit of concealer and powder. When I do put effort into my eye makeup, I've been reaching for these products. I've acquired a few sample sizes of Urban Decay's Primer Potion, and before I repurchase the full size (I haven't even tried the new packaging yet!), I decided to use up all the little sized ones. After primer, I go in with my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt, which is a gorgeous peachy-bronze-champagne color that looks stunning for the Summertime. On top, I use my Urban Decay Naked Basics Pallet, which has been my go-to ever since I finally gave into buying it in early May (generally I use Venus all over the lid, Naked 2 or Faint in the crease, and highlight with Foxy or Walk of Shame). I was very into skipping eyeliner on my upper lash line or just using a dark eye shadow and an angled brush, but lately I've been adoring my Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes in 0L Matte Black. Eyeliner is not my thing but even I find this pencil to just glide on effortlessly. For the waterline, I use Rimmel's Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude, which makes the eyes look bigger and brighter without being as harsh as a white pencil (these liners are also a perfect dupe for the NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliners!). I finish up with the Mega Plush mascara in Blackest Black from Maybelline, which has very mixed reviews among the blogger community, but I happen to love the natural look it provides. 

MAC Cremesheen Glass, Rimmel Powder Blush

I don't tend to fiddle around with a lot of cheek or lip products when I can avoid it. I love highlighter, but I find a slightly shimmery blush can have the same effect. I love Rimmel's Powder Blush is Pink Rose, which is a really natural, neutral pink blush with a slight pink shimmer. I love it because it's one of those blushes you don't have to really think about. You just swirl your brush into the power and sweep it on and it looks great. The shimmer isn't as noticeable on the cheeks as it is in the pan, but provides a nice, illuminated look. I pair the blush with MAC's Cremesheen Glass in Just Superb, which is virtually the same color. This gloss is completely non-sticky and the formulation is fairly long lasting and definitely really glossy. 

I hope you all had a great week!

xoxo 

Alyssa